Specifying Custom Color for Plastics

Additionally, regulatory compliance, such as UL or FDA guidelines, can impact the selection of pigments and dyes used to achieve an accurate color match.

Addressing all these issues is not easy, that is why processors find it cost effective to work with the color experts at RTP Company.

Your application may have special requirements that impact your color formulation. When preparing a custom color match RTP Company will ask you to supply information regarding the following issues:

End Use Application
What type of application the color is intended for and how it is used aids colorists it determining what pigments are appropriate and which will result in the best match and remain consistent during environmental exposure.

Base Resin System & Specific Grade
Some pigments are not compatible with all polymers and certain grades utilize processing parameters that can degrade many pigments.

Additional Properties
If the color will be used in conjunction with reinforcement/fillers, UV stabilizers, anti-stats, flame retardants, antimicrobial additives, or require laser markability may impact the ability to obtain certain colors.

Visual Standards
If the application has cosmetic attributes, is an internal part, or simply requires color for identification purposes allows colorants to be chosen that maintain cost controls.

Spectrophotometer
Calibration of different brands and models of color measuring equipment varies, common brands are: Gretag Mcbeth, Datacolor, ACS, Minolta, or XRite; typically models are either desktop or handheld units.

Instrumental Evaluation
If a color is going to me measured using instrumentation a numerical tolerance must be specified as the acceptable margin of error.

Delta E
If Delta E is used to determine match accuracy whether the CIE-LAB or CMC scale will be used must be known.

Texture
Surface types can influence a match’s perceived successfulness, common textures that need to be identified include: glossy, matte, textured, moldtek, or VDI.

Disposition
If a colored part stands by itself, mates with parts made from the same or other materials—which may also be colored—or is attached to a substrate can impact the perception of a colors precision.

Please contact one of our Color Account Managers or your local RTP Company Sales Engineer to begin the color selection process.

Request your copy of our Color Technologies brochure today!

Learn more about attaining quality color and how RTP Company will make your next application a colorful success.